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Lidl Ends Linear TV Advertising in France Following Legal Setback

Regulatory risk tied to a 1992 TV ad rule drives a pivot to online video.

Overview

  • Lidl says it will spend zero on linear TV in France in 2026 after the Paris appeals court ordered €43 million in reparations to Intermarché.
  • Judges found 374 spots aired between 2017 and 2023 misleading for promoting prices without guaranteeing 15-week nationwide availability required under ARPP guidance and a 1992 decree.
  • The retailer plans to challenge the ruling before the Cour de cassation.
  • Linear TV represented about 22% of Lidl France’s media investment last year, while the group spent roughly €400 million on advertising in the first three quarters of 2025, ranking as the country’s No. 2 advertiser.
  • Broadcasters and industry figures, including M6’s David Larramendy, call the rule outdated and warn that shifting budgets to platforms like Google, Meta, Netflix and Amazon could strain French media funding.